Check out this simple tutorial for how I made a simple wooden makeup box for storing basic items!
I'm excited to share this Christmas present I made for my mom with you all! I shared with you how I had renovated my moms bathroom in just two days.
It looked gorgeous and then at the very end she picks up this plastic tub and sets it down on top of the toilet. I said to her "WTF?" and she said it was her makeup container and she had to have all of her makeup with easy access.
There was no way I was going to make this beautiful bathroom and then stick a plastic tub in plain sight. So, ipso facto, I built her a wooden makeup box.
Wooden Makeup Box
This is a really simple box and you could really use it for anything. I built it to the dimensions that I had measured out on top of my mom's toilet where I knew she would want to keep it.
This one is 16"x7"x4" and I made the entire thing out of a six foot long 1"x8" piece of poplar. The first thing I did was cut the pieces.
Cut List:
- 1- 16"x7"
- 2- 16"x4" mitered on both ends
- 2- 7"x4" mitered on both ends
- 1- 15"x6"
Step one: glue up sides
After making the cuts, I glued up the four sides using Gorilla Wood Glue and right angle clamps.
Then, I sunk in the 15x6 piece to the bottom of that frame and glued it in.
Step two: make top
While that was setting, I rounded off the top edges and corners of the 16x7 piece using an orbital sander. This will serve as the top of the box. I also glued on a tiny nub of wood in the center to serve as a little handle of sorts.
Step three: finish corners
Next, I used an epoxy and sawdust mixture to fill in the gaps in the corners and around the underside of the box.
After it dried, I used the orbital sander to buff down the excess and round the corners to make it look like one piece.
Step four: attach top
Next, I used a chisel to cut out recessed rectangles for the hinges on both the box and the top, then attached the hinges.
Because of the beautiful grey color of the poplar, I didn't stain the box at all because I wanted it to match the shelves I put up in my mom's bathroom. So I just poly'd it.
DIY wooden makeup box
The box turned out great and she loves it. She is so happy with it and it looks so much better than the plastic tub!
A handmade gift always makes someone smile, so try this one out for someone who needs some organization!
Looking for something?
We've been doing this since 2012 so we have a LOT of blog posts!
Search stuff like: Ceiling Projects | DIY Plant Stands | Thrift Flips
Hey there, I'm Sean, the woodworking enthusiast and builder behind CharlestonCrafted.com! Since 2012, I've been sharing the magic of turning raw materials into beautiful creations. I love teaching others the art and satisfaction of woodworking and DIY. I try to inspire fellow crafters to make something extraordinary out of nothing at all.